The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-03-25
THE NATIONAL DRILL.

The Gathering of the Militia From All Sec
tiOns of the Country to Participate in the
National Competitive Drill at Washing
ton An Assured >ucceSs-The Prepara-
tions for the Accommodation of Soldiers
and Civilians.
WASHINGTON, March 2L-The National
drill commencing here on May % and end
ing on the 3)th of that mOnth-DecoratiOn
Day-with the grand com bination parade
of the National Guardsmen and the Grand
Army of the Republic, is no longer an ex-
perimental affair, but fixed and assured
success, both in. the unequaled crowds of
excursionists and visitors from civil life
sure to be drawn here by its varied feat
ures. Details of the distribution of
S26, 500 in cash prizes, besides stands OF
colors, gold and silver and bronz5
medals and special medals and plate
trophies, have already been mentioned in
these dispatches. Thirty-six States are
represented in the applications already
received, and letters have been received
from the Governors of sixteen States, in
reply to a circular sent out asking their
views to the utility of the encampmeut
and drill and as to their interest in the re-
view ON Governors day. Singular
unanimity of approval of the subject and
of the Governors day feature of the drill
marked these letters, most of them bear
ing strongly upon the National and
conceived and managed.
The grounds for the camp are the mon
ument grounds lying around the Wash
ington monument, and the drill ground is
the beautiful level ellipse, lying just south
of the Presidents mansion, known as the
"white lot" This level plain, one-half
mile in circumference. viii be fenced in,
and stands sufficient to scat from thirty
to thirty-fve thousand persons will be
erected. Here, during the time of the drill,
Will be held daily contests to prove the
excellence of the citizen soldiery in in
fantry, artillery, cavalry and zOuave tao
tics
Cadet corrs of military schools will also
drill for priz IS; and bands and drum-corps
will be in attendance fromthe North, South,
East and West. Each evening there will
be a grand brigade dress parade, and on
Governors Day, and Memorial Day, the
tire army corps from camp. George
Washington' will make public parades
upon the broad avenues of the National
Capital Nothing like this drill has SO
agitated the peop'e of Washington for
years, and from all parts of the country
come reports that the flower of the citizen
soldiery are coming, and with these will
come throngs of civilians.
A bureau of information and comfort
has been organized, and visitors need fear
neither lack of accommodations nor eX-
tOrtlOn for 1t.
Among the champion crack companies
so far formally entered are the Montgom-
cry Greys, Vicksburg Southrons, St. Paul
Company 3D. Indianapolis Light Infant
ry, San Antonio Rifles, Richmond Greys,
Milwaukee Light Horse, Atlanta Rifles,
Company B, Twenty-third New York reg
ment, Lomax Rifles, the Muscatines, of
Iowa, the famous Houstons, the Chic ka-
saws, Louisville Legion, Montgomery
True Blues, the Lynchburg Home Guards
and the Troy IN. " Citizens Corps. A
brigade from Virginia, regiments and bat-
talions from North Carolina, Ohio, Michi-
gan, Iowa, Kentucky and Rhode Island
are informally entered.
Managing Secretary De Leon hesitates
until after April /, the day fixed for the
closing of entries, about estimating the
number of soldiers that will occupy tents
in camp George Washington" but a
rough estimate places the number any
where between ten and twenty thou
sand.